On 16 November your 1200 ZT DR position is LAT 26°48.0'S, LONG 124°32.0'W. Your vessel is on course 078°T, speed 17.0 knots. You observe an ex-meridian of the Sun's lower limb. The sextant (hs) reads 81°41.3'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 56 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 15m 32s, and the chronometer is 03m 06s fast. What is your latitude at meridian transit?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option D: 26°42.6'S. Calculate the time from LAN using the chronometer and longitude. Correct the sextant altitude for index error, dip, refraction, and semi-diameter. Apply the ex-meridian reduction formula (reduction = a * cos(lat) * cos(dec) / cos(lat_dec_diff)) to the corrected altitude to find the latitude at transit, 26°42.6'S.